Balloon



UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL A. KING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ysALLooN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,389, dated December 1'7, 1889.

Serial No. 281,281. (No model.)

.To al whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Balloons, which Improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists in attaching to a balloon a figure of a human being, animal, or other object, and providing the same with means whereby motion may be imparted to said figure in imitation of ,an acrobat or performer, or other effect or action.

Figure l represents a front elevation of a balloon embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a view of a portion at a right angle to Fig. l. Similar letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures. V

Referring to the drawings, A represents a balloon, which is of well-known construction. Connected with the cords l of the balloon is a cross-bar 2, from which depend the bearings of a rotary shaft or rod 8, to which latter is secured a figure B,which may be made Y of any suitable light material. To the rod 3 are secured drums or pulleys 4, on which are wound cords 5, which carry weights G, so that the ligure may be rotated.

In the present case the figure is that of a trapeze performer, and each pulley 4. is provided with pins 7, which radiate therefrom and have a cord wound alternately thereon, so that the figure receives rotary motions in reverse directions. Radiating from the rod -3 is a weighted arm 8, which acts as a counterbalance to the gure B, and said rod has secured to it braces 9, which are attached to or encircle certain parts of said iigure, so as to sust-ain the same in operative position.

It will be seen that when the balloon asy cends the descending weights 6 cause the figure to rotate, the motions being in imitationL of a trapeze or gymnastic performer.

SAMUEL A. KING, a

The figure serves as a retarding device, pre- Venting rapid unwinding of the cords and running down the weights.

The duration of the motion of theigure may be regulatedby the length of the cord and the height to which the balloon ascends, t I am aware that it is not new to provide a toy parachute with a figure which depends from a bar, the latterbeing integral with said figure and suspended from the cords of the parachute, but the same is not intended to rotate as t-he parachute rises. I am also aware that a toy gymnast is old, the same consisting of a figure secured to the rock-shaft, which is rotated by the action of a spring and a cord, the latter being connected with an operatinglever, and I disclaim such features.

Having thus described my invention, what I y claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Aballoon provided with a rotatable shaft mounted thereon, in combination with a iigure connected with said shaft, and a weighted cord wound on said shaft in such manner as to rotate the same and the ligure as the balloon ascends, substantially as described.

2. A balloon, in combination with a rotatable shaft mounted in suitable bearings depending from said balloon, a figure secured to said shaft, a weighted cord wound in such manner on said shaft as to rot-ate the same and the figure as the balloon ascends, and a counterbalancing-arm secured to said shaft, substantially as described.

3. A balloon having a rotary shaft attached thereto, a figure connected with said shaft, a cord wound 0n said shaft and adapted to rotate the same, and braces encircling said figure and secured to said shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

S. A. KING.

fitnesscsz v JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. P. J ENNINGS. 

